950806

Kim Jong-il

likely to

become head

of state

TOKYO: North Korea's undisputed leader Kim Jong-il may be named head of state on September 9, the national foundation day, the Japanese economic journal Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on Sunday.

Nihon Keizai, quoting unidentified sources in Tokyo, also said Kim, son and heir to the late "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung, may complete the long-awaited succession by becoming leader of North Korea's ruling Korean Workers' Party on October 10 when the party marks its 50th anniversary.

Kim's only current formal post is Supreme Commander of North Korea's armed forces.

Since the death of his father on July 8 last year, Kim Jong-il had been expected to assume the two other top posts but North Korea had not revealed a schedule.

Nihon Keizai said the term of delegates to the Supreme People's Assembly, the rubber stamp parliament of the Stalinist state, expired in April but may be extended for it to formalise Kim's appointment as state president in September.-Reuter